This blog is about teaching, instructing and sharing practical applications to navigation, GPS technology and survival in the backcountry.

Map, Compass & GPS

Wild flowers along Fall Creek on the way to the Green Lakes - Oregon

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Maps For Your GPS

There are several map software programs on the market and several that are free. Check these out.Garmin(www.garmin.com) has several products available. I'd check REI for a good list of what is available. The quality is very good, road and trail information is current; it's a quality product. On my older Garmin products I still use the old Map Source product and it works nicely for my needs.

Montana Mapping (www.huntinggpsmaps.com) is an absolutely first rate product for the backcountry hunter. Using USGS maps layered with land ownership information (e.g., Forest Service, BLM) this product provides an incredible amount of information for the dollar. The old forest road/logging road data provided is probably the best on the market.Free Maps for the GPSGPS File Depot (gpsfiledepot.com) has an extensive library of free maps. Switchbacks (www.switchbacks.com) has topo's of the Pacific Northwest. Keep an eye on Rich Owings' outstanding site: www.gpstracklog.com for information and product reveiws relating to GPS.

About Me

Avid outdoorsman in all seasons. Always learning to improve my knowledge-base and to pass on lessons learned. Search and Rescue volunteer, amateur ham radio operator, retired Naval officer. I focus on keeping my family and students safe and prepared to spend an unexpected night out. Founded Outdoor Quest in 1998. I teach land navigation (both compass/map and GPS applications), and wilderness survival.